View full sizeTimes-Picayune archiveRon Wright, Delgado Community College chancellor, is on medical leave.

Until he returns, Deborah Lea, vice chancellor for academic affairs and college provost, is acting chancellor. Although Lea has been occupying this post since late in the spring semester, her appointment will be made official Wednesday by the Board of Supervisors of the Louisiana Community and Technical System, which includes Delgado.

System spokeswoman Kizzy Payton said she does not know why Wright requested the leave or when he will return.

"We definitely wish him well," she said.

Wright, 63, leads a college with the biggest enrollment in the New Orleans area. In the spring semester, it had 19,258 students at nine sites.

Wright has an associate degree from Northeastern Christian Junior College, a bachelor's degree from Pepperdine University, a master's degree from Antioch University and a doctorate from Cornell University.